Almost as if being handed its diploma and told to get a job, Acura has shed the frat-boy “hoodie” of the first-generation RDX crossover for a suit and tie on model year 2013. Gone is the chiseled styling and the (much beloved) spunky turbo four with Acura opting instead for more mainstream body lines and [...]
2013 Chevrolet Suburban is the Prairie Schooner of the Modern World
The Suburban Carryall – prairie schooner of the modern era, the longest-running nameplate in the automotive industry, the original SUV. As Chevrolet heads into fall production of its iconic Suburban fullsize family hauler, it enters the 79th year of production of the model all the while keeping faithful to its initial concept of spaciousness and [...]
Do You Own a Car?
There were some amazing discussions at Telenav’s Waypoint conference a few weeks ago about GPS, mobile navigation, and how we approach our smartphones and integration location services into our lives. One offshoot of that discussion, though, was whether GPS navigation would matter in the future, since car ownership is apparently on the decline. I was [...]
2013 Cadillac XTS AWD
Cadillac, like so many automakers, has gone through a product transformation of late. Adding new models, discontinuing others, all the while attempting to reach new clientele without losing the base customers that got them here. Large, luxurious land yachts have always been the staple at Cadillac but to look at the current lineup one would [...]
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 is All That
OMG has been waiting for a moment like this – the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 – a car that absolutely epitomizes the philosophy of “shut up and drive.” Oh-My-Gawd! I find difficulty in accurately describing my first experience behind the wheel of the latest Shelby model Mustang save to say that this car is definitely [...]
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid for Earth Day
Let’s face it – going green will cost you, at least when it comes to your automobile. Nearly every automaker charges a premium for their most environmentally sensitive models when compared to comparable gas-only alternatives. At Volkswagen things are no different. The last new Jetta we tested was the TDI turbo-diesel model that arrived at [...]
2013 Nissan Titan Pickup is Upgraded ‘Status Quo’
Despite much of its lineup receiving significant (and much needed) makeovers recently, Nissan boasts a vehicle that is perhaps the “longest in the tooth”, as it is still basically in its first iteration in the form of the Titan fullsize pickup. The Nissan Titan first appeared at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, and later that [...]
Tesla Motors Fights to Sell and Service EVs in Texas
For the most part, I really love living in Austin. Like most university towns it is quirky and odd, and has the added spice that comes with being a state capital (for a state that, population-wise, is the second-biggest in the country). There’s an abundance of things to do, incredible live music, South by Southwest [...]
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Finally Earns ‘Thumbs Up’ UPDATED
It has been a few years since a Ford F-150 Raptor has graced our test driveway, and in that time the model has seen a few enhancements to what is already a ‘roided-up version of Ford’s best-selling vehicle in North America. While the SVT Raptor is basically a Baja truck with NHTSA safety equipment and [...]
2013 BMW X1 Sport Activity Vehicle Bleeds 3-series DNA
BMW is a marque used by many automotive journalists as their “industry standard.” While I do not agree with many of my colleagues across the board on this, for me the X3 crossover from Bavaria is at the top of its game so there was much anticipation when the automaker brought its newest cute ute [...]
Ford Adds More ‘Sport’ to the 2013 Ford Explorer SUV
Ford “reinvented” its popular Explorer sport ute for the 2011 model year, shedding its frame-based roots for a unibody platform shared with the likes of Taurus and Flex. For 2013, Ford is adding the option of the twin-turbo V-6 EcoBoost engine in the midsize ute – calling the new model Explorer Sport. To add more [...]
2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 4WD in the Grinding Gears Garage
Toyota claims its Highlander midsize crossover utility vehicle pioneered the segment that saw traditional frame-based carry-alls attain more carlike attributes by converting to unibody architectures. Despite that, Highlander never really became a “household name.” That’s kind of a shame, as Toyota’s midsizer offers quite a few variants of its three-row CUV including choice of powertrains [...]
Chevy Volt at SXSWi Review
Chevy Volt, loaned to me for the week of South by Southwest Interactive for review purposes When it comes to car reviews, Gear Diary has some experienced people to check things out for you. But this time, neither our intrepid (and superlative) car reviewer David Goodspeed – and how excellent is that a name for a [...]
2013 Ford Escape in the Grinding Gears Garage
Compact utility vehicles are all the rage these days, and in recent weeks (and months) many have graced my test driveway. Automakers near and far are seeking ways to stand out from one another in a bid for the consumer’s attention and at Ford that is certainly no different. For 2013, Big Blue Oval has [...]























